Hannah Rushbrooke
Email: hannahrushbrooke@hungryforchangeofficial.org
Call: 07412504040
Sophie Lowe
Email: sophielowe@hungryforchangeofficial.org
Call: 07775197979
Kat Pugh
Email: kat@hungryforchangeofficial.org
Call: 07736909673
Email: hannahrushbrooke@hungryforchangeofficial.org
Call: 07412504040
Sophie Lowe
Email: sophielowe@hungryforchangeofficial.org
Call: 07775197979
Kat Pugh
Email: kat@hungryforchangeofficial.org
Call: 07736909673
Hannah Rushbrooke
(Co-Founder)
I am Hannah and I am the co-founder of this campaign.
Why I set up the campaign...
I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa in 2008. My health deteriorated, which lead to my relationships with family and friends falling apart. Fortunately, my illness was picked up on quickly and the appropriate treatment was given. I was referred to a fantastic team who helped me on my road to recovery. Once I had reached a healthy weight, I still found situations difficult and my attitude towards food was still rather negative. This confused people around me, as they had assumed a healthy weight = a healthy person. Many people forget Eating Disorders are a mental illness, and that the food and weight issues are merely symptoms.
After reading people's experiences on other websites and handouts, opened up to me was a world of other Eating Disorders that I knew very little about. Eating Disorders are a lot of the time about control, and so when recovering I wished to put my controlling manner to positive use and Hungry for Change was born!
I hope this site provides useful information for you about different types of eating disorders, and inspires you to get involved in stamping out the stigma.
Hannah x
Why I set up the campaign...
I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa in 2008. My health deteriorated, which lead to my relationships with family and friends falling apart. Fortunately, my illness was picked up on quickly and the appropriate treatment was given. I was referred to a fantastic team who helped me on my road to recovery. Once I had reached a healthy weight, I still found situations difficult and my attitude towards food was still rather negative. This confused people around me, as they had assumed a healthy weight = a healthy person. Many people forget Eating Disorders are a mental illness, and that the food and weight issues are merely symptoms.
After reading people's experiences on other websites and handouts, opened up to me was a world of other Eating Disorders that I knew very little about. Eating Disorders are a lot of the time about control, and so when recovering I wished to put my controlling manner to positive use and Hungry for Change was born!
I hope this site provides useful information for you about different types of eating disorders, and inspires you to get involved in stamping out the stigma.
Hannah x
Sophie Lowe
(Co-Founder)
My name is Sophie and I am the other co-founder of Hungry for Change.
Why I set up this Campaign...
In the past I have suffered from both Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa. When I suffered from Bulimia, nobody knew what to do with me. I was just been shoved from pillar to post within treatment, because, whilst suffering from the two intermittently, I didn't fit the right category. You either have to be emaciated with Anorexia, or receive no treatment at all.
When asked of the two, which was the most debilitating, I would say Bulimia. It robbed me of my self esteem. I spent my whole life feeling guilty and disgusted with myself. I felt alone, and that nobody understood, and because I wasn't "thin enough" I was refused treatment. Through these experiences, it has left me with a desire to make a change so improve services and treatment for eating disorders.
I now consider myself to be recovering from both eating disorders, and I'm starting to realise that life is amazing, and I don't want to spend all of it worrying about weight and calories, and being dictated by my eating disorder.
Why I set up this Campaign...
In the past I have suffered from both Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa. When I suffered from Bulimia, nobody knew what to do with me. I was just been shoved from pillar to post within treatment, because, whilst suffering from the two intermittently, I didn't fit the right category. You either have to be emaciated with Anorexia, or receive no treatment at all.
When asked of the two, which was the most debilitating, I would say Bulimia. It robbed me of my self esteem. I spent my whole life feeling guilty and disgusted with myself. I felt alone, and that nobody understood, and because I wasn't "thin enough" I was refused treatment. Through these experiences, it has left me with a desire to make a change so improve services and treatment for eating disorders.
I now consider myself to be recovering from both eating disorders, and I'm starting to realise that life is amazing, and I don't want to spend all of it worrying about weight and calories, and being dictated by my eating disorder.
Kat Pugh
(Hungry for Change Co-ordinator)
Kat brings to the scheme many years worth of volunteer experience, having previously worked with a number of NGOs in the UK and in Africa.
"It was volunteering abroad that gave me a new lease of life, when in recovery from my eating disorder. It gave me a new goal, and I've been able to channel my energy towards this ever since. I've been lucky enough to experience some wonderful places as a result, and meet some incredible people."
As well as volunteering with Hungry for Change, Kat has been a beat Young Ambassador for two years, and is particularly keen to use her role to encourage others to seek help early on, having seen her teenage years taken away by the illness.
Kat is currently campaigning avidly for a better and up to date health policy for eating disorders, which includes early intervention for all disorders, and a policy which will include a renewed commitment towards funding research.
In her spare time, Kat enjoys travelling to places she's not yet been (!), playing the cello and singing in her church choir.
"It was volunteering abroad that gave me a new lease of life, when in recovery from my eating disorder. It gave me a new goal, and I've been able to channel my energy towards this ever since. I've been lucky enough to experience some wonderful places as a result, and meet some incredible people."
As well as volunteering with Hungry for Change, Kat has been a beat Young Ambassador for two years, and is particularly keen to use her role to encourage others to seek help early on, having seen her teenage years taken away by the illness.
Kat is currently campaigning avidly for a better and up to date health policy for eating disorders, which includes early intervention for all disorders, and a policy which will include a renewed commitment towards funding research.
In her spare time, Kat enjoys travelling to places she's not yet been (!), playing the cello and singing in her church choir.
